Michael was born in Sarstedt, Germany. He started playing in his early teens when his brother Rudolph brought home a Flying V guitar, which captured Michael's imagination. His playing style is unusual in that he seems not to use conventionally practiced guitar scales but seems instead to improvise.
Schenker joined UFO under unusual circumstances. The band left the UK to play some dates in Germany. Their guitarist at the time; Bernie Marsden, forgot his passport and was unable to make the first gig. At the venue UFO spotted Michael playing a soundcheck with the Scorpions and managed to persuade him into playing that evening's show. Despite the language barrier; he spoke no English and they spoke no German, something clearly "clicked" and Schenker brought the ellusive X factor to the band and took them to another level musically.
Schenker has had a turbulent career with UFO, often walking out mid song and causing shows to be cancelled. He is evidently as temperamental as he is gifted. Schenker says his playing with UFO is like chocolate: fantastic for a while but once you've had enough....
Clearly a musical prodigy, Schenker was one of the 1970's most inspirational guitarists, influencing later musicians such as Kirk Hammett from the band Metallica.
Michael was offered gigs with Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne but decided he wanted to play his own music and not be a hired hand in another group. In 1979, he founded the Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G). The history of the Michael Schenker Group has been strewn with personality conflicts and "incidents" between band members. In 1982, original vocalist Gary Barden was sacked in favor of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz) who lasted one album (Assault Attack) and was fired from the band after dropping his pants in a warm-up gig before the Reading festival. Gary Barden was enticed back to the band for Reading and stayed with M.S.G. for the recording of a new studio album (Built to Destroy) and a live album (Rock Will Never Die). After the second departure of vocalist Gary Barden after the Built to Destroy album, Michael reorganized the band around himself and vocalist Robin McAuley as the McAuley Schenker Group. After three albums in that configuration, Michael and Robin parted company.
Michael next rejoined UFO for the album Walk on Water. A short tour punctuated by a fight between Michael and vocalist Phil Mogg ended the reunion.
Michael resurrected the Michael Schenker Group with all new players and recorded three decent albums and toured yearly to appreciative Schenker-heads around the United States and Europe.
Michael fell on hard times in the early 2000's after his divorce in which he lost rights to his own music, his Mercedes and his prized Flying V guitars.
Michael picked himself up and got back to the business of making and performing music. The recording of the album Arachnophobiac and the resulting two years of touring got Michael back in rocking form.
2005 brings the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group. Michael is putting together a new album of songs called Tales of Rock and Roll honoring that anniversary. Singers from each iteration of the group have been enlisted to sing on a track or two.
A new Michael Schenker Group album is as much about finding out who is left in the band as it is about the music. Devoted fans love him regardless of his personal and personnel problems.
Lost Horizons
Michael Schenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have no feelings or name,
But I can see, I can hear,
The voice of death is shouting in my ear!
Making war, making love
You know what I'm thinking of
How many times the traps are set,
You can't remember, and I can't forget!
Can you heal the scars on me
Life within my heart, hope within my soul, is dying!
Bid farewell, the works of men
When cries of anger sound again
My tears of shame, cut like a knife,
How can I justify this life!
Can you see me now, can you feel the pain,
Can you heal the scars on me
Life within my heart, hope within my soul, is dying!
My mind is searching for reasons why
A time to live or die
If we had now what we had then
Lost horizons might return again...
Can you see me now, can you feel the pain,
Can you heal the scars on me
Life within my heart, hope within my soul, is dying!
Lost horizons...
The lyrics to Michael Schenker's song "Lost Horizons" are quite metaphorical and cryptic, but they seem to deal with heavy themes such as war, death, and regret. The singer seems to be a shell of a person who has been through countless trials and tribulations, rendering him numb to any emotions. He poses a series of questions that seem to be directed towards an unknown entity, but they could also be introspective questions. The singer asks if the listener can see him or feel his pain, and begs for healing of the scars that he bears.
The singer then laments the state of the world, and bids farewell to the works of men when cries of anger sound again. He is ashamed of the violence and destruction that he has experienced, and seems to question the morality of his existence. The line "How can I justify this life!" stands out in particular, as it suggests a deep sense of guilt and regret.
The chorus then repeats, with the singer asking if anyone can see him or feel his pain. The final line, "Lost horizons..." seems to suggest a longing for a better future or a return to a better time.
Overall, the lyrics to "Lost Horizons" are somewhat ambiguous, but the imagery and themes presented throughout the song create a haunting and evocative atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
I've stood in time, wind and rain
I have been in existence for a long time enduring all forms of environmental conditions.
I have no feelings or name,
I lack emotions and identity.
But I can see, I can hear,
Despite my lack of feelings or name, my senses are intact.
The voice of death is shouting in my ear!
I'm constantly reminded of mortality's inevitability.
Making war, making love
Two forces, conflict and affection, drive humanity.
You know what I'm thinking of
My thoughts on these forces are predictable.
How many times the traps are set,
Traps are set again and again, and it's hard to remember how many times.
You can't remember, and I can't forget!
While it's easy to forget about trivial things, it's impossible to forget about important or traumatic events.
Can you see me now, can you feel the pain,
I wonder if others can empathize with my pain and suffering.
Can you heal the scars on me
I hope others can help me recover from my wounds and traumas.
Life within my heart, hope within my soul, is dying!
I'm losing the positive emotions and outlook that keep me going.
Bid farewell, the works of men
Farewell to the material achievements of humanity.
When cries of anger sound again
Anger and frustration are bound to resurface.
My tears of shame, cut like a knife,
My sense of guilt for humanity's shortcomings is overwhelming.
How can I justify this life!
It's hard to make sense of existence in the face of so much pain and suffering.
My mind is searching for reasons why
I'm trying to make sense of life's complexities.
A time to live or die
Life is a struggle to survive and thrive.
If we had now what we had then
Reflecting on the past and what could have been.
Lost horizons might return again...
The possibility of a better future exists if we can learn and improve.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GARY BARDEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind